Bruins savor challenges before playoffs

The Bruins' 13-0-1 run has virtually assured them of finishing first in the Eastern Conference, so they're happy for the motivation their upcoming opponents provide.

Mike Loftus The Patriot Ledger

WILMINGTON – Four weekends ago, the discussion was about how daunting the month of March would be, with 17 games in 31 days, six sets of games on consecutive days, travel between all the back-to-back games, and so on.

The stretch finally ends with this weekend’s matinees at Washington (12:30 p.m. Saturday; NESN, WBZ-FM/98.5) and Philadelphia (12:30, Ch. 7, 98.5), and the Bruins may just be sad it’s over. They’re 13-0-1 since losing to the Capitals, 4-2, on March 1 at TD Garden, using that run to effectively clinch the Atlantic Division championship, run away from the Penguins in the Eastern Conference standings, and push to finish first in the NHL overall.

The schedule may not be so tight for the last two weeks of the regular season, but in the short term, the Bruins still see it as their friend. Starting on Saturday against the Caps, they’ve got a week’s worth of games against teams that are nowhere near as safe as the B’s when it comes to playoff planning.

That’s how the Bruins want it.

“At this time of year, a lot of times you’re kind of trying to find ways to motivate yourself,” coach Claude Julien said after Friday’s practice.

“There’s a lot to be motivated for here – the teams we’re playing against and the (standings) situation we’re in right now. There’s no reason for us to slack off or get lackadaisical, complacent, any of that stuff.”

Perhaps most notable about the week ahead is that the Bruins’ schedule is all conference-based and includes games against opponents they could meet in the opening playoff round – presuming they finish first in the East, where they took a nine-point lead over Pittsburgh into the weekend.

Washington, Detroit (Wednesday night’s opponent) and Toronto (Thursday), plus Columbus, all entered the week in a virtual dead heat for two wild-card positions, all with 80 points. Philadelphia, which also visits the Garden next Saturday, led that group by a mere three points.

The B’s aren’t looking at the games as a playoff preview, even though one is almost bound to be exactly that.

“Right now, I don’t think we’re wasting too much time on that,” Julien said. “I know it sounds boring, but it’s about taking care of our own stuff. I think that’s what’s important right now.”

The Bruins won’t play their first playoff game until April 16, at the earliest, so whatever happens between this weekend and the April 5 home game against the Flyers may not hold much weight, anyway.

“I’ve played in games late in the season where you’re definitely playing that team in the playoffs,” Chris Kelly said, “and the game hasn’t had any impact on the series.”

The B’s don’t want to give any potential playoff opponents confidence, but they don’t think they need to set a tone or make any statements.

“There’s too many what-ifs,” Kelly said. “We just want to make sure it’s a hard-fought game, that we play well, and then see what happens.”

Winger Shawn Thornton, steadfast when it comes to ignoring most everything except for his own team, takes people’s word for it when told games ahead are against potential first-round foes.

“I haven’t looked at it, haven’t worried about it one second,” Thornton said, although he is happy the games mean something to the Bruins’ opponents.

“We’re a team that’s built that way,” Thornton said. “We like challenges. It’s been a fun month so far and hopefully that continues for the next couple of weeks.”

AROUND THE BOARDS

Julien said he’s planning to give key players some rest before the playoffs, but “to give them a rest now, probably by the time the playoffs start, that rest may not mean much. I don’t want to leave it until the last minute, but probably a little closer to the end than right now.” … Julien said defenseman Adam McQuaid, sidelined since Jan. 19 by a quadriceps injury, has “ramped up” his off-ice rehab. “I don’t know exactly when you’re going to see him on the ice,” the coach said, “but right now things are going well for him.”

Mike Loftus may be reached at mloftus@ledger.com. On Twitter.com: @MLoftus_Ledger.